6 migrants shot dead near Guatemalan border when Mexican army troops open fire
Associated PressOCT 9 2024
Mexico: Soldiers Open Fire on Migrant Truck, Kill Six Near Guatemala
Above: Migrants set out in a US-bound caravan on the outskirts of Tapachula, State of Chiapas, Mexico, near the country's southern border with Guatemala, on July 23, 2024. Image copyright: Isaac Guzman/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
This kind of tragedy is a direct consequence of Mexico's decision to militarize migration enforcement in its southern border with Guatemala — and one that was waiting to happen given the country's record of human rights abuses. Crackdowns can only aggravate risks for already vulnerable people who are migrating to survive.
Narrative B
This is indeed a tragic incident — and Mexican authorities have already launched an investigation into the shooting. However, this isolated event doesn't mean that deploying soldiers to the southern border was a mistake. Violence has ramped up in the area as cartels expand their presence and vie for territorial control, and Mexico's authorities must act to curb criminal activity.